1
- a heavy tool with a rounded end, used for crushing and grinding substances such as spices or drugs, usually in a mortar（研钵中捣研用的）杵; 研槌; 捣锤。
1.1
- a mechanical device for grinding, pounding, or stamping something粉碎机, 研磨机。
with obj.
- crush or grind (a substance such as a spice or drug) with a pestle（用杵或粉碎机）捣碎, 研磨（诸如调料或药物）：
she measured seeds into the mortar and pestled them to powder.
她量了些种子倒进研钵中并把它们研成粉末。
词源
Middle English: from Old French pestel, from Latin pistillum, from pist- 'pounded', from the verb pinsere.